Hospital parking charges increase
CAR park charges are going up from next week at all three hospital sites in Leicester.
This is the first increase in six years but the graduated rise still puts the tri-sites of Leicester Royal Infirmary, Glenfield and the General at the bottom of the list for cost in comparison to other regional centres.
Around 3,400 patients visit Leicester’s hospitals each day with the majority travelling by car. The hike will take effect from Monday October 9.
Darryn Kerr, director of estates and facilities at the trust, said: “As part of this process we have engaged with some of our key stakeholders. Many understood the situation, some were supportive of the planned proposals and some challenged us.
“Clear amongst the feedback was that people want a ‘pay on exit’ solu- tion and the ability to not pay for the first half hour across all the three sites - this is only currently available at the Royal Infirmary. As a result, we will be working with parking solution providers during the next financial year to find a way to fund and upgrade systems to include ‘pay at exit’ barriers at both Glenfield and the General Hospital. This solution will have the benefit of making it easier for patients and visitors to use the car parks, as well as a fairer payment system across the board.
“We appreciate the charges may feel like a significant increase for our patients and visitors because it has been six years since we last reviewed them, but we have learned through the engagement process that we need to review parking charges more regularly and in line with inflation to stagger the costs more fairly.”
The trust said while increasing parking charges was never a popular move, without the fees the hospitals would have to find money from elsewhere to provide safe, accessible parking - a measure potentially impacting on frontline services.
The charges go up to £1.70 for one hour, £2.80 for two hours, £3.30 for three hours, £4.40 for four hours, then £6.60 for eight hours, £11 for 12 hours, £13 for 24 hours, £2.20 overnight, £6 daily, £16.50 weekly and £55 monthly.
The trust will continue to offer free allocated parking for disabled users, for those on benefits and discounted rates for regular hospital visitors, with the weekly, monthly and saver tickets. think it would have gone straight through the shop.”
A police spokeswoman said officers were called to the scene shortly after 11pm
She said: “A 17-year-old youth was reported for offences after an incident in Castle Street, Hinckley, on Friday night.
“He’s been reported for drink-driving and failing to stop at the scene of a collision.
“He sustained injuries but they are not believed to be serious.”
Fortunately the shop was able to re-open two days later.
Lisa said: “The support we’ve had from customers since the incident has been fantastic.
“Lot’s of people have posted kind messages on social media and many people have popped their heads’ round the door to say hello and ask if we are okay.
“We’d like to thank everyone for their concern.
“The place is still in a bit of a mess but at the end of the day it’s only bricks and mortar. The main thing is that no-one was seriously hurt.”